What?
know ye not that... ye are
not your
own? For ye are bought with a price.

"Hi-de-ho everybody. This is Michael Jay Busybody in the Anytown
Cathedral, one of the most highly respected churches in the US of A
where I am about to interview the head pastor Mr Merci Von Danke. Thank
you Pastor Danke for allowing this interview."

"You are entirely welcome Mr
Busybody. And I
appreciate your taking the time to visit me in my humble church."

"And thank you again Pastor
Danke. Pastor
Danke I understand you have recently written a book called Taking
the Bullet, and that your book
has not only received rave reviews from the critics, but has brought
you great wealth adding to your already abundant fortune that you have
earned preaching the Gospel. Could you tell us a little about your book
and what led you to write such a book?"

"I would be most pleased to
oblige Mr
Busybody. My book is a highly Christianized tome written in such a way
as to be well received and understood by the secular world. Taking the
Bullet is in reference to Jesus dying on the cross as a replacement for
the debt we owe to God. But few people realize just what this sacrifice
means. Not even many Christians understand this concept to its fullest.
And those Christians who do understand are not very inclined to live up
to all it entails. Have I lost you yet Mr Busybody?"

"Not yet Pastor Danke. But
I'm still in the
dark as to why you named your book as you have, and how it applies to
Jesus on the cross. I didn't know they had gun powder in the first
century AD."

"Taking the bullet is merely
a metaphor for
suffering a penalty that someone else deserves. It is based on the
Chinese concept of there being a responsibility involved when we save a
person's life, or if someone saves our life. I have combined the
Christian concept of this process with the Chinese philosophy in hopes
of making the point as clear as possible to everyone."

"I must say Pastor Danke
that such a concept
is indeed a unique and an effective one. And I assume Pastor Danke that
you are, besides being a very religious man, a highly appreciative one
besides. Am I correct in my evaluation Pastor Danke?"

"Indeed you are Mr Busybody.
And thank you
for noticing this quality in me. I believe that appreciation, even for
the small things, is one of the most important characteristics any of
us can possess. It is imperative that each of us dig down deep in our
heart and become just as appreciative as possible. Don't you find this
to be so Mr Busybody?"

"I certainly cannot deny
what you have said
Pastor Danke. Appreciation is indeed a very important quality to have,
and one, I'm afraid, not often exhibited. For our listening audience
who might not be fully aware of the usage of the word, could you give
us a definition of the word appreciation."

"I must confess that few
people possess
appreciation Mr Busybody. And I find that even fewer people actually
understand the word to its fullest. We tend to think of the barest
minimum of the word, and this is what we teach our children from birth.
We teach that appreciation is exhibited when we verbally say thank you,
or when we give a quick blessing before we consume a meal. This is
merely an intellectual exercise however, and it is far from approaching
the true meaning of the word appreciation. When we appreciate, we
greatly value something or someone. The more we value a person, the
more we want to do for that person and the more we want to please that
person. Appreciation also has the connotation of being the opposite of
depreciation. For instance, when something is depreciated, like a new
car once it's driven off the car lot, it loses value. In the same way
if we look down on someone, or take them for granted, we depreciate
them. We devalue them. On the other hand, when we prize something or
someone, we add to their value, that is, we appreciate them. Have I
explained my meaning clearly enough Mr Busybody?"

"Indeed you have Pastor
Danke. And I can see
that you are truly a man who knows how to appreciate. It must be
refreshing for your congregation to have you instruct them on such
subjects as appreciation. Such a clear understanding you have of the
subject. Oh, and what have we here? I see a man of apparent meager
means approaching us. Perhaps he's a panhandler attempting to acquire
some money for a meal. I have a few dollars here in my pocket I can
spare."

"Hello Pastor Danke. I'm
sorry to bother you
this way. But I was wondering if you might be able to spare a moment of
your time where we can talk about a problem I'm having. As you know I
lost all my wealth paying for that hospital bill three years ago, and
because of losing my leg from gangrene brought about by complications I
acquired during the rescue I have been unable to find work. I won't
take long Pastor Danke. I'm not looking for much, just a little concern
and a little appreciation."

"Listen Joe, why don't you
go away and leave
me alone. I've already said thank you. I called you a couple times when
you were in the hospital. What else do you want from me? Blood? Just go
away and stop bugging me. And here, take this book I just wrote. It'll
tell you all about appreciation and what's to be done when a life is
saved. You don't have to thank me Joe, just go away."

"Thank you for the book
Pastor Danke. I
appreciate it. But my name is Joshua. I'll go away Pastor Danke. And
thank you for your time."

"Now that was an interesting
dialogue Pastor
Danke. I take it you know this poor beggar. Am I to assume you did
something for him in the past for which he has failed to demonstrate
his appreciation?"

"He has indeed misunderstood
the concept of
appreciation, and what is required when one saves another's life Mr
Busybody. That is why I gave him my book in hopes that it will help him
to better understand the concept of appreciation."

"You said earlier Pastor
Danke that you've
taken your concept of saving one's life from the Chines proverb where
one who has his life saved by another becomes the servant of that
person for the rest of his or here life. Is that what you're hoping the
man will learn? And do I assume correctly that you saved his life at
some time past?"

"I'm afraid you
misunderstand the Chinese
concept of saving one's life Mr Busybody. When someone saves your life,
that person becomes responsible for the one who's life they saved, and
that forever. Three years ago I lost everything I owned. I was suicidal
and jumped into the river. Joe, the guy who was just here, jumped in
and saved me. He was rich at the time, but he lost everything because
of doctor bills incurred from the injuries he encountered in the
rescue. That was three years ago, and every year he comes around and
bugs me like he did today. Nag, nag, nag. I said thank you. What else
does he want? Sheesh. Out of the kindness of my heart I don't even hold
him to his responsibility to take care of me forever. But does he
appreciate my great sacrifice and kindness? No.. Some people, they just
have no sense of appreciation at all. Sheesh!"

19What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which
is in you, which ye have of God,
and ye are not your own? 20For
ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's. (1Cor 6:)

44Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which
when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and
selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly
pearls: 46Who,
when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
(Mat 13:)

26If
any man
come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea,
and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot
be my disciple. 28For
which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and
counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient
to finish it?
(Luke 14:)

3For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; 4And
they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2Tim 4:)